Floating deck for oil tanks



H. B. LELAND AND W. SCHWEMLEIN.

FLGATING DECK FOR OlL TANKS APPLICATION FIlED MAY 12,*1921.

Patented A110". 22, 1922.

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HARRISON RUSSELL LELAND AND "WILLIAM SCHWEMLEIN, 0F PARERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, AssIGNons To PARKERSBURG RIG a REEL COMPANY, or PARKERS- BURG, WEST VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA..-

FLOATING DECK FOR OIL TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent. atgmtfed Auge 229 19220 i appiication med May 12, 1921. seri-a1 No. 469,021.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, HARRISON R. LELAND and WILLIAM SGHWEMLEIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Parkersbur in the county of Wood and State of West irginia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Floating Decks for Oil Tanks, of which the following is a specifica.- tion.

This invention relates to floating decks for oil tanks, and it comprises a body portion, a

rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper end, a series of plates arranged circumferentially of --the deck and contacting with the wall of the` tank, said plates being extended upwardly and provided with flanges adapted tobe ar-y ject matter of the present application broadly relates to the invention claimed in our copending application, bnt the inventionherein disclosed and claimed differs in the details of` construction from that disclosed in our copending application.

In the present application, we provide a deck having an upwardly extending rim as in our copending application, the rim being provided with an upper flange. lA series of U-shaped plates adapted to contact with the wall of the tank, are supported on this flange, one of the arms of the U of each plate being provided with a flange adapted to be arranged over the flange of the rim to support the plate and form a fulcrum therefor. An

inwardlyextending lever is attached to each plate, the free lend of the lever having a spring secured thereto, adapted to turn the plate on its fulcrum and maintain it in engagement with the wall of the vessel.

In the accompanying drawings, we have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

which may be formed of sections 2 secure-d to each other in any suitable manner, as at 3. A body of oil within the tank is indicated by the reference numeral 4.

The floating deck is adapted to rest upon the body of oil, and comprises a body portion 5 to which an upwardly extending rim 6 1s secured. The rim is provided with a lower flange 7, for the reception of suitable fastening' means 8', passing through the bodyportion of the deck. The rim is further provided with an upper flange y8.

,v The plates which are arranged around the circumference of the deck and contact with the walls of the tank are supported on the upper flange 8 of the rim. Asshown, each of the plates comprises a main outer section .-9, havinga base portion 10 and an inner section 11, forming a substantially U-shaped construction. An auxiliary plate 12 is secured tolthe upper end of the inner section of the main plate by any suitable means. As shown, the. plates are clamped, as at 13, to secure them to each other. The inner section is provided withl a flange 14 on its upper end, which is adapted to rest on the flange 8 of the rim to support the plates 9 and 12. A lever 15 is secured to the plate 12 in any suitable manner, the freey end of the lever being arranged at substantially right angles, as indicated at 16. A spring 17 is secured to the end of the lever, the opposite end of the spring being secured to the rim, as at 18. A quantity of gravel or other material may be arranged in the bottom of the U-shaped plate, as indicated at 19. This material covers the spaces between adjacent plates to retard circulation of air, and other gases and vapors, thus reducing evaporation.

The operation of the device is as follows:`

The deck is adapted to float on the top of a body of oil arranged within the tank, and the plates 9 are normally maintained in contact with the outer wall of the vessel' by means of springs 17 The springs tend to pull the horizontal portion 16 of the levers is thus provided which reduces evaporation to a minimum, and reduces fire hazard. rllhe deck sitting on top of the body of oil, eliminates the space usually occupied by air, gases and vapors in the ordinary tank when the tank is partially-filled with oil. 1

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the' same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Y

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

l. A floating deck for oil tanks comprising a body portion, an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper end, a series of U-shaped plates pivotally supported on said fla-nge and contacting with the wall of the tank, and means for retaining said plates in contact with the wall ofthe tank.

2. A floating deck for oil tanks comprising a body portion, an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper en d, a series of U-shaped plates pivotally supported on said flange and contacting with the wall of the tank, levers secured to said plates and extending inwardly, and springs secured to said levers to retain said plates in contact with the wall of the tank.

3. A floating deck for oil tanks comprising a body portion, an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with aflange on its upper end, a' series of U-sliaped plates arranged circumferentially of the body portion of the deck, the outer arm of said plates being adapted to contact with the wallfof the tank, the

inner arm being provided with a flange adapted to rest on the flange on said rim to pivotally support said plates, and means of the body portion of the for retaining the outer arm of saidA plates in engagement with the wall of the tank.

4. A floating deck for oil tanks comprisi ing a body portion,'an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper end, a series of U-shaped plates arranged circumferentially deck, the outer arms of said lates being adapted to contact with the wal of the tank, the inner arms being provided with flanges adapted to rest on the flange of said rim to pivotally supportsaid plates, levers secured to the inner arms of said plates, and extending inwardly, and springs secured to said levers to retain said plates in contact with the wall of the tank.

5. A floating deck for oil tanks comprising al body portion, an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper end, a series of plates arranged circumferentially of the body portion and contacting with the wall of the tank, the lower ends of said plates being extended inwardly and upwardly, a second plate secured to 'each of said plates and extending upwardly, said second plate being provided with a flange adapted to rest on the flange of the rim to pivotally supportsaid plates, and means for retaining said first plate in engagement with the wall of the tank.

6. 5t-floating deck for oil tanks comprising a body portion, an upwardly extending rim secured thereto, said rim being provided with a flange on its upper end, a series ot plates arranged circumferentiall;7 of the body portion and contacting with the wall of the. tank, the lower ends of said plates being extended inwardly and upwardly, a second plate secured to each of Asaid plates and extending upwardly, said second plate being provided with a flange adapted to rest on the flange of the rim to pivotall)7 support said plates, levers secured to said second plates and extending inwardly, and springs secured to said levers to normally maintain said first plates in contact with the wall of the tank.

In testimom7 whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

HARRISON RUSSELL LELAND YVILLIM SCHlVEMLEIN. lvitnesses E. R. SCHRENDT, HERBERT L. Pos'rLEwAIT. 

